Mexican Independence Day celebrated with dance

Published 7:19 am Wednesday, September 16, 2009

The dance Maria Rubio, 21, and Claudia Gutierrez, 20, perform has a rich history.

“Some people know how to dance, and they just teach the younger generations,” Gutierrez said of “El Jarabe Tapatio.” The Mexico-born women, who wear traditional dresses for their performances, learned the dance from friends.

The dance was one of two performed Tuesday at the Mexican Independence Day Fiesta at Riverland Community College.

Email newsletter signup

Three boys from Ellis Middle School also performed “The Dance of the Viejitos,” and traditional Mexican food was served.

Organizer Ricki Walters, a diversity trainer at Riverland, said the event is “a celebration of Mexican’s independence from France.” It is celebrated each Sept. 15.

“It’s a very big celebration in Mexico,” Walters said. “It’s a way for us to celebrate that.”

Multicultural students adviser Miguel Garate said the college wants to “give something back.”

“We didn’t want them to forget their traditions of back home,” he said.